NISSAN QASHQAI
FROM £1,500 The original and still the best? Family crossover trend-setter still impresses
THERE had been plenty of small SUVs before the Qashqai arrived in 2006, but Nissan’s innovative design sparked the crossover trend. Here was a road-biased, mainly front-wheel-drive model with the chunky looks and raised ride height of a 4x4, but the running costs of a family hatch.
Nissan even bowed out of the hatchback class altogether, replacing its Almera and Primera models with the Qashqai. The SUV flew out of showrooms; nearly 100,000 were sold in the first year across Europe alone. Now more than a decade old, early Qashqais are a great second-hand buy.
History
IT’S hard to remember a pre-crossover time. The Qashqai proved the advantages of extra ride height, including excellent speed-bump manoeuvrability and improved visibility. Its cabin was well designed, and the Mk1’s 1.6litre petrol and 1.5 diesel could return more than 40mpg and 50mpg respectively. Trims were Visia, Acenta and Tekna, and in 2008 a
Qashqai+2 was launched, to give more space and a pair of seats in the boot. An n-tec trim and fresh diesels arrived in short order, before an all-new Mk2 came along in 2014 with sharper looks and a new interior.
Engines and trims were similar, but a 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol replaced the ageing 1.6. All Mk2s get climate control and a colour touchscreen, while Acenta adds 17-inch wheels and a rear camera.
Which one?
THERE isn’t a Qashqai to avoid, but the Mk2 looks more contemporary, and the 2018 facelift even more so. Petrols are ideal for town work, yet the 1.2-litre can struggle on motorways – facelifted cars get a better 1.3litre unit. Four-wheel drive can be useful for towing, otherwise most Qashqais are frontwheel drive, which helps to save fuel.
There’s no shortage of rivals, from the great-value Kia Sportage to the practical and fun Skoda Yeti and sharp-handling Ford Kuga.
Verdict
WITH 2.5 million examples sold, the Qashqai is a regular fixture in the top 10 best-sellers list. It’s good to drive, has a pleasant interior and its engines keep a lid on running costs. However, reliability isn’t as strong as we’d have expected from Nissan.